INTERVIEW: Gipsy Kings prepare for NYC concert at Beacon
The Gipsy Kings sometimes defy explanation. They are a powerful group of musicians who advance a unique sound with nonstop touring around the world. It’s tough to call their songs world music because that doesn’t seem to fit. It’s tough to coin their sound as the product of any one cultural background.
Instead, the Gipsy Kings’ songs represent a wonderful mixture of numerous styles and rhythms, and bandleaders Nicolas Reyes and Tonnino Baliardo know how to keep their motley crew of performers focused on making music that lingers in one’s memory long after the final note.
Their concerts are legendary affairs featuring hit after hit after hit, with some new songs and rarities thrown in for good measure. They bring their North American tour to a close Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City.
Recently, Baliardo, lead singer and co-producer, exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox about the band’s music, legacy and touring schedule. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
On Savor Flamenco, your celebrated album from a couple of years ago, you produced and wrote all of the material. Why did you take this approach for this recording?
We wanted to do this for a long time. We always write our music, but these songs we had been writing needed our touch this time for the production. The timing was right.
When putting together a set list, what goes through your mind? Do you think about the classics, rare songs, new songs?
We try to play for the fans. We have fans of all ages, and now that our sons perform with us, it is important to play old and new songs.
You began playing a few decades ago in the southern French town of Arles. What are your memories of these early concerts during the first days of the Gipsy Kings?
We have a lot of family, so our memories are with them and the fans that have been with us from the beginning while we played smaller shows.
Your music crosses many borders and has been cherished by so many cultures. Is it important for you that the music is loved by so many people in so many countries?
Of course. The music we make comes naturally, so we don’t have to force ourselves to make something that many cultures love. We are grateful that we have been able to create this music for so many different cultures and generations. We hope we can continue to do that.
Could you ever envision your life without music?
Never. Music and family is our life, and we cannot have one without the other. It is a great joy to see our sons play with us every night, and we hope they pass our musical traditions down to their families.
When you hear your song on the radio, do you listen? Do you turn up the volume?
We love to hear our music played on all forms of media and do turn it up. We don’t really listen to the radio much. We are still excited and surprised to hear our music played.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Gipsy Kings will play the Beacon Theatre in New York City Saturday, Sept 10. Click here for more information and tickets. Click here for Hollywood Soapbox’s previous interview with the Gipsy Kings.
